Professional athletes will tell you winning a Super Bowl is priceless; well, winning two . . . that’s twice as priceless. The 2003 season belonged to Manning until that snowy AFC Championship Game when Brady reminded us that while other quarterbacks might have stronger arms, more raw talent and more legendary names, his strength is his ability to win the biggest of games.

We’ve seen this before. Dan Marino had better physical tools, but Joe Montana won all the Super Bowls. Wilt Chamberlain was basketball’s Superman, but Bill Russell was it’s Super champion. Alex Rodriguez is baseball’s most talented shortstop, but now he’s playing third because Derek Jeter has the World Series rings.

Might the same pattern be developing between Manning and Brady, who renewed their budding rivalry last night in a nationally televised NFL season opener? Manning was the league’s co-MVP last year; sharing honors with Titans quarterback Steve McNair. It was a well-deserved award after he threw for 4,267 yards and 29 touchdowns. With Manning at the helm, the Colts’ offense was operating at frightening efficiency going into last year’s AFC title game, having totaled 887 yards and 79 points in its first two playoff wins.

But New England’s defense hassled Manning into four interceptions, while Brady made all the right plays in leading the Patriots to a 24-14 victory that sent them to Super Bowl XXXVIII. There, Brady and the Patriots outlasted the Panthers to win their second Super Bowl in three years.

Still, we marvel over Manning, while waiting for Brady’s fairy tale to end. You figure somehow, somewhere, he won’t complete the game-winning drives like he did against the Rams in Atlanta or like he did against the Panthers in Houston. He doesn’t look like the Chosen One even though the results suggest otherwise.

“The best thing [Brady] does is he uses the players around him,” Manning said. “He’s got a great defense, great play-making receivers. He plays smart. He’s a talented guy, very cool under pressure.”

Brady follows in the legacy of some of sport’s greatest players. Russell got his rings by allowing his teammates to play to their capabilities; Montana bred confidence in everyone on his side; and Jeter motivates his entire team with his passion.

We’re still waiting on Manning. Heading into last year’s postseason, it was rightly pointed out that he was 0-3 in his previous playoffs, a monkey he removed with impressive wins over the Broncos and the Chiefs. But he was a clunker against the Pats as he was hurried by pressure, foiled by tight coverages, and frustrated into mistakes. He won’t get a chance to rectify that until January comes again.

For now, Manning has his $98M contract. Brady has his second Super Bowl ring. Priceless.